Wally Edwards elected CA deputy chairman

Cricket Australia could be set to have a former Test player as chairman for the first time since Sir Donald Bradman, with the election of Wally Edwards as deputy chairman. Edwards, who is the longest serving of the current board of directors, was promoted to the role at the Cricket Australia board meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

An opening batsman from Western Australia, Edwards played three Tests during the 1974-75 Ashes series. He has served on the CA board since 1996 and, as deputy chairman, he will be the leading candidate to take over as chairman when the incumbent Jack Clarke's term expires.

"The board's decision to elect Wally Edwards as Cricket Australia's deputy chairman is a wonderful result," Clarke said. "Wally has been a dedicated servant of the game, firstly as a player and now administrator and I look forward to working closely with him to ensure the continued success of cricket in this country."

A civil engineer, Edwards owns a Perth-based company that manufactures irrigation products, and he has also served as vice-president of the Western Australian Cricket Association. Edwards, 60, said he was looking forward to his new role.

"It is a great honour to be elected Cricket Australia's deputy chairman," Edwards said. "I am excited at the prospect of working with current chairman Jack Clarke and the Cricket Australia board as Australian cricket strives to continue is recent success and help to ensure cricket retains its position as Australia's favourite sport."